Chapter 18

HENRY'S POV

The book was found. Something about the Fable of nature blessed. We scanned through, quick like we were being chased. The faster, the better. The texts were a bit too ancient for my reading so Kalim's father did the reading. I was as useless as my betas who decided to do some socializing. We were social animals after all.

"Only a Ravaii can call it home." He read.

So somehow Kalim can summon it?" I asked, figuring that was the reason for his hyped abilities.

"I don't think so." He replied, stroking his chin." perhaps he can learn the location."

His hands pointed to a part u couldn't even interpret but he was a darling too.

" It would call to him and he would heed the call."

My mind reeled. Did that mean that the "Orvinus" was somehow alive?

"What does it mean to call?" I inquired.

"I don't know."

"Can I help you?" A feminine voice asked and I turned to meet a woman with dyed hair. The pink looked a bit too overdone.

"Hello, Matilda." Henry's father acknowledged.

I gave a nod to acknowledge her presence.

"We're just doing some research." Kalim's father added.

"I don't think you should be looking for that...it says something about freeing a great evil."

"That just a myth to keep it away from the wrong hands." I stiffened, my eyes feeling warm. Her wide-open eyes informed me that they looked far from normal.

"Well if you want to know where it was last, I can help." Matilda offered, totally ignoring my presence and turning to Kalim's father.

"That would be great Matilda."

She was trying to help but I had an off feeling about her. She just seemed to help and moreover, she had been doing her research. Why? To find it and take it? She could be working for the enemy.

Matilda showed us an old photo. It was taken in the late nineties as it was white and black bit we saw what we needed to see. A young woman holding an almost transparent skull like it was a smile and giving the camera a huge smile.

"The problem is, the woman is dead and tracking for her relative and asking them about a crystal skull is not an option," Matilda revealed.

I raised an eyebrow.

"So why were you researching on it anyways?"

"I felt the need to keep a destructive artifact like that safe..."

"And it would have been close to Legolas, Pretty safe." I cut in.

Kalim's Dad looked at me disapprovingly but didn't make a comment. He only thanked Matilda profusely and took a shot of the woman promising to try and learn more. I didn't bother doing the same because I knew who the woman was. She was Cheryl's mother, her late mother and that could only be that it was in the possession of Cheryl.

The bad vibes I felt didn't allow me to reveal what I knew but I was going to do it and alone. I instructed my betas to hang around and return home as I had an important business.

Cheryl lost her mom to an auto crash whilst returning to Athenrim. Cheryl was only a scrawny teenager then. Till now, even the mere mention of her mother's name broke her to tears. It was one of the reasons I and Kalim avoided family talk whenever we were with her. I knew I could not bring up anything about her mother at least not straightforward.

Charlotte's house was a bit far from mine and although she had a ride, I knew she wouldn't come visiting. She hated visiting others. She felt it made her a bit clingy. Although, this was her though. Losing her parents and being taking care of by an absentee stepfather took a toll on her so much that her only solace was drowning herself in school activity to make up for lost time and partying.

I knocked gently on the steel wreathed door, not surprising after her family was robbed on more than one occasion.

The lock clicked and the door opened.

"See who decided to come visiting," Cheryl said sarcastically, a bottle of whiskey in her hand.

She seemed disgruntled. Her bleached blonde hair even lacking more sheen and she looked wasted without her makeup on. She was dressed in a plain pajama and wore no footwear.

"Come in." She offered shivering a little as the cold winds hugged her.

I came inside amazed by the wonderful decor of her home.

It was warm compared to the harmattan that raged outside. The walls were painted cream and it kind of sent a soothing sensation down my tensed muscle. Her loving room was more than majestic. Seeing it each time, I marveled at the fact that her living room alone was bigger than my entire house. Adding to the simple outlook of her house were huge blue Persian rockers meant for one but could actually fit more than two people. I sat on one, relieving myself of my backpack.

"What do you want?" Cheryl demanded, collapsing to a chair.

It hit me hard. I hadn't visited or asked of him in the course of the week and I was absent from school for three days now.

"I just came to know how you're doing?" My stomach tightened knowing I lied.

"Well, I'm great. Want a drink?" Cheryl offered.

I declined, thinking of the words to say.

" It has been a little long since we met. Is there anything I should know?" I was really trying hard to make a conversation.

"Yes! In fact, there is! Like, cut to the chase Henry!" Cheryl replied, taking another gulp of her alcohol.

"I'm doing a project on artifact and... well...I know your mother loved buying and keeping artifacts. She was an explorer herself..." I wanted to say more but Cheryl cut me off.

"You and Kalim abandoned me for days and you come visiting and all you can ask is for is to see an artifact. What about my well being?" She sobbed.

My heart bled watching her in such a state but we were at great risk. One we might never overcome without the artifact lying dormant in her room.

It hurt me to do this but I had to lie.

"I'm sorry Cheryl. I didn't want to hurt your feelings but I'm going to a different school soon. I was trying to find the right time to tell you."

Tears welled in my eyes but it was the lies that were breaking me.

"When did this happen?" Cheryl asked, visibly shocked.

"Not long ago." I declared, my conscience pricking me.

"So Kalim's also going there too?"

"Yes."

Her eyes watered some more.

"It sucks to be rich." She admitted.

I gave her a warm hug. She was breaking.

"It's okay Cheryl."

"You're right. We'll meet again anyways."

I gave a warm smile to her comment hoping so if we survived Legolas' attack.

"So what do you need to know?" Cheryl asked, wiping her moist face with the back of her hands.

"Can I see them?" I asked.

She nodded affirmatively and showed me the way. It turned out it was in her closet. Several old artifacts and jewels kept as a moment for her remembrance.

Cheryl reached out to one at the far corner of the cabinet.

"She was fond of this." She stated, pointing to my face the object of my desire.

"Orvinus," I exclaimed.

"Yes! Do you know of it?"

I used to think Cheryl wasn't the brightest but she seemed to know a great deal about the artifact. She also referred to it as the lock of silie. I hardly knew what that meant but I played along.

The artifact felt a lot ordinary to me. I felt no vibe or anything out of the ordinary but if we needed it, I was taking it. It would be difficult since Cheryl seemed to have a connection with the skull, it was her mom's favorite after all.

"Can I borrow it?" I asked with caution expecting a huge no but Cheryl surprised me.

"You'll be gone from my life anyway. Keep it."

"Gee! Thanks, Cheryl. I owe you a great deal." I appreciated but she shrugged it off.

"I'll miss you, Henry."

"Me too." I acknowledged, wondering how I could keep with the lies.

We embraced ourselves in a tight hug, my wolf relishing the moment and wanting to break free but I kept it in its mental cage. For reasons unknown, it was stronger.

I looked at the wall clock, 10:00 AM. It was perfect for my getaway. I had it, the tool to Legolas destruction. Tucking it inside my backpack and away from the watching eyes, I left Cheryl's house.

AVERY'S POV

It was getting dark and I was getting uneasy as to what was taking Henry so long. He was not responding to my mindlink or my text. It was just 12:01. It was noon but the sky was beginning to darken almost like it was going to pour rain and dogs. I had returned to our house by daybreak and had been expecting Henry's return like a dutiful wife.

"Sit down Honey, Our alpha can take care of himself." His mother commented, enjoying the gust that blew in thanks to the odd change of weather. Two teenagers, I hardly recognized were conversing. I did not know who they were but I could tell they were fellow werewolves.

"Avery!" Henry finally contacted me through the link.

"Where are you?" I queried. His tone and train of thoughts were worrying so I asked.

"What's wrong?"

An awkward pause followed and I could feel his mind go static. It made my undead heart leap

"Call my mother." Henry requested.

I turned to her.

"I think Henry wants to speak with you."

The poor lady rushed to meet me, Wondering what in the world was wrong.

"What's wrong child?" She asked and I queried Henry.

"I feel weak...like I'm losing touch with reality."

I relayed what he said to his mother and lines of worry filled her face. Something was wrong and it got my mind reeling. Could it be the skull? Almost immediately, the sky darkened and the moon came into view. It lights illuminating the windows in a warm blue glow.

Henry's mother and the twin wolves walked over to tye moonlight as if by instinct.

"Oh no!" Henry's mother groaned. She seemed to be apprehensive about something. Whatever she was worked up about, Henry felt it too. Soon all I could get from Henry was agonizing screams and growls.

"Avery run!" Henry's mother commanded.

Before I could make out what she meant, three feral wolves towered upon me, dealy intent written in black ink in their soulless eyes.

A gut feeling told me it was the strange moon that caused it. A blue moon in the afternoon. What are the odds? This was definitely Legolas but before anything, I had to escape...